Remember the 2012 Waratahs, who were coached by Michael Foley, that won four Super Rugby games, and lost 12 – the last eight in succession?
They were so woeful, they were booed off the field at every home game.
Foley was sacked.
Last night at Alliance the current crop were worse, butchering a 17-0 lead over easy-beats the Southern Kings after 34 minutes, only to lose 26-24 in overtime.
Needless to say, they were booed off the field for the first time since 2012.
Coach Daryl Gibson must be sacked, but with no ready-made replacement standing out, Gibson could still be there at season’s end.
That is unless the ARU bites the bullet and asks Wallaby coach Michael Ckeika to take over as an additional responsibility.
That would be a major change in direction for the ARU, renowned for sweeping any problems under the carpet. For the ARU, out of sight translates to out of mind.
But Cheika coaching the Waratahs will help shore up his Test roster for the June window when the men in gold take on Fiji, Scotland, and Italy, and Super Rugby takes a break.
That resumes in July and will finish before the Rugby Championship involving the Wallabies, All Blacks, Boks, and Pumas leading into the end of year tour to the northern hemisphere.
Last night there were eight Wallabies in the Waratahs starting line-up, and two on the bench, with prop Sekope Kepu a non-starter with injury.
None of them would be worth a stamp to Cheika in their current form, mood, and confidence.
Apart from the odd moments of quality, the current Wallabies in the Waratahs just aren’t with it.
The passing is rubbish, the handling is rubbish, the support play is rubbish, the tackling is rubbish, the scrum is rubbish – and would you believe the lineout is rubbish.
There’s no doubt Cheika coaching the Waratahs would greatly enhance the Wallabies internationally.
He’s a no-nonsence, get with it or get out coach – and that’s what the Waratags desperately need. Simply they have forgotten how to play which is the most damaging criticism possible.
Besides, the Wallabies have a poor enough record without having to carry Waratah passengers.
There’s nothing like the present Bill Pulver, let’s have Michael Cheika installed at Moore Park by Tuesday.
Kirky
Roar Rookie
Michael Cheika should be avoided at all costs, he is not a good Coach, and furthermore, Daryl Gibson would have forgotten more about Rep' rugby than Cheika will ever get to know about it! In saying that, it doesn't make Gibson a great Coach at all just better than Cheika! And please don't waffle on about Cheika coaching the Waratahs when they won the Super Rugby title a couple of years back, ~ the Waratahs were very, very, lucky to have won that last game and everybody should know that!
soapit
Guest
i dont believe you. theyd change it before the season started and would still play out the regular season
soapit
Guest
promotion relegation systems eventually entrench top and bottom sides within a comp and rely on big depth in talent
ClarkeG
Guest
He is the invisible silent man. I'd love to hear his explanation of Referee Hoffmann's explanation of the Hanigan YC.
ClarkeG
Guest
No Boz ...just a mere mortal pointing out your overbearing attitude (an attitude that you appear to think you are entitled to without question) consistently reflected in your posts.
30mm tags
Guest
Karmichael Hunt has recreated himself. Whatever he did since 2016 has now produced a full back who is now the best in the country.
Timbo (L)
Roar Guru
Hey, hey, hey, there are a number of quality Reds and Rebels players out there as well, and the Tah's have a pretty good halfback that should be considered.
Ryan
Roar Rookie
Jeff - oz rugby is so poor all five franchises should be relegated to NZ ITM cup. Develop their game for a few years vs quality provinces with a thought to rejoin super rugby when adequate.
Timbo (L)
Roar Guru
Coleman, Matt Phillip and Ritchie A. would allow Big Rosco H-P to play in his more familiar 6 position. That is a lot of lineout and ruck firepower. Hodgo, Naiasarani, Stunder and Dicky Hardwick can share the 6/7/8 duties.
Timbo (L)
Roar Guru
Hanagan's performance is probably unfamiliar to Tah's fans but the job of the loose forward is to go ruck to ruck pilfering or protecting. they need both speed and brawn to do this properly. Because the anointed one doesn't do any of that, it probably seems wrong when others do it. Watch any quality side and you will find at least 2 of these guys roaming the field with the halfbacks creating problems for the opposition. In a modern side the hooker and number 8 are off the leash doing it as well. Dane Coles, Jerome Kaino, Sam Cane, Matt Todd, Ardie Savia if you want a benchmark, Pocock, Alcock, Gill, Smith, Fardy, Dempsey, Higgers, Holloway for east coast context, Rebels and Force have too many to name, CJ Stander, Tuperic and a dozen others if you want a lions feel. The Kings man mountain number 6 shut down the Tah's attack patterns just by doing his job. With a bit more genuine help up front, the backs wouldn't have had to pitch in and be tied up in the rucks instead of the back line where they belong. Either the Tahs and by extension, Wallaby approach is the right way to do it and the rest of the world have got it wrong. or...... well, you know ....the other way around.
Lazza
Guest
Thats why your a mouth not a coach lord..rubbish comments by you...i didnt see the coach on the field....
Old Bugger
Guest
Jibba Regarding my final para - I rest my case, on DM's ability to confound, the opposition.....you just didn't know that I'd say that, did you....haha?? Btw, suggests Izzy should be LRO instead....??
Akari
Roar Rookie
"Hanigan was all over the field, and into everything." I think you've identified Hanigan's problem and the way the Tahs played. All over the field and into everything but with no impact. Just not good enough.
Akari
Roar Rookie
Sharp and hilarious, T(L)
Jibba Jabba
Roar Guru
Good point.. different body shapes denote different tactics and capabilities i suppose... Suggests Folau should definitely be on the wing then. As to your last paragraph....
Jibba Jabba
Roar Guru
And the other big lock Arnold was also missing, would have been a great match-up with Coleman and Arnold v Retallick and Bird, the shortest of them is 204cms and they are all athletic mobile players..
Old Bugger
Guest
Jibba Surely, that's just asking too much of the big fella....?? Remember, DM is just a little fella who's probably, half the size, of Izzy. Obviously, it ain't the size that matters - it's what you do with it, that counts.
Jibba Jabba
Roar Guru
Tick
Jibba Jabba
Roar Guru
Folau should take a leaf out of Damien McKenzie's book, (fullback for the chiefs) DM was "everywhere man" popping up all over the field and doing everything at pace and then kicking the goals as well. Seemed like he was in 3 places at once and the speed he gets up off the ground after tacking or being tacked and back into the fray is amazing.
Jibba Jabba
Roar Guru
Where did your abusive post go twassy ? And here was me trying to be pleasant wishing you good morning and all... I think i have worked it out twassy, you are part of the aru Media Office but sub-contracted so you can say you personally are not employed by the aru and never have been - very clever :)